The death of a human being just might be one of the most misunderstood subjects today. For many, death is shrouded in mystery and evokes dread, uncertainty, and hopelessness. Others believe that their deceased loved ones are not dead at all, assuming their spirit still lives with them or looks down on them.

Millions are confused about the relationship between the body, spirit, and soul. But its needful to understand the three parts of our human being if we are to understand man’s creation and his end.

Some ask, does it really matter what you believe? Yes—absolutely! What you believe about the dead will have a profound impact on your peace of mind.

We need always to ask. “For what saith the scripture? ...” (Romans 4:3a) This Study will very simply give us exactly what the Bible says on this subject of life, death, and eternal life.

1. How did humans get here in the first place?

The Lord God “formed man [Adam’s body] of the dust of the ground,” and “breathed… the breath of life” into him thereby forming the “spirit of man within him” (Zech. 12:1); thereby man “became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7) The words spirit and breath are the same Hebrew and Greek words.

“The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [Heb. chai, lives); and man became a Living Soul” (Gen. 2:7). Man, therewith has a spirit, body, and soul. (1Thes. 5:23)

2. What happens when a person dies?

The Bible says “Then the dust [of the body] will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit [breath] will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

The spirit in every person who dies—whether saved or unsaved—returns to God at death. That “spirit of man” is God’s life on loan in anticipation of you receiving Jesus’s eternal resurrected “Spirit of life.”

3. What is the “spirit” that returns to God at death? It is the “spirit (breath of life)” that enlivens and animates humans when it enters into the body. “The body without the spirit is dead” (James 2:26). “The spirit of God [on loan] is in my nostrils” (Job 27:3). The “spirit of man” that returns to God at death is “the breath of life,” so man is then dead in his body, soul and spirit.

4. What is a “soul”? “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man Became A Living Soul” (Genesis 2:7).

A soul is the ‘living being’ that is the result of the God’s Spirit (breath) breathed into his clay form. A soul is always a combination of two things: the body plus breath. A ‘soul’ person (having a of mind, emotion and will) cannot exist consciously unless body and breath are combined.

God’s Word teaches that we ARE living souls—not that we have a soul. This explains why when a ship goes down the question is, how many souls were lost? Death disassembles man’s tripart being; it is the ‘Body minus Breath (Spirit) resulting in No longer being a ‘living Soul.’

Nowhere in the Bible does the soul have any life, awareness, wisdom, or feeling after the person dies, except in Jesus’ mocking parable of ‘the rich man and Lazarus’ spoken to the Pharisees.

5. Do souls die? Yes, Jesus said; “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20).

According to God’s Word, souls die or perish! We are souls that die. Thus, man is mortal (Job 4:17).

Only God is immortal (1 Tim. 6:15, 16). The concept of an undying, immortal soul is NOT found in the Bible, as it is in some Pagan religions. The Bible teaches that souls are subject to death. The Bible suggests that King David will be in God’s kingdom, but that he is in his grave now, where he awaits the resurrection. (Acts 2:29, 34).

6. Do good people go to heaven immediately when they die? Nobody goes to heaven or to “the lake of fire” immediately at death. (Thief on the cross to be explained in Part 3 of this series.)

“All who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth [be resurrected to judgment] ” (John 5:28-29).

“David … is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. … For David did NOT ascend into the heavens” (Acts 2:29, 34).

“If I wait, the grave is mine house” (Job 17:13).

The dead don’t go anywhere except “the grave,” awaiting their resurrection… either to reward or to “everlasting destruction [Gk. apolymmi, utter destruction]” (2Thes. 1:9).